The Desert Camel

Camels are large hoofed mammals living in the desert regions of North America and Asia. There are two types of camels in existence today: the Dromedary or Arabian camel and the Bacterian camel. Learn more.

Camels are large-hooved mammals living in the desert regions of North America and Asia. There are two types of camels in existence today: the Dromedary or Arabian camel and the Bacterian camel. The Dromedary or Arabian camel has one hump on its back and the Bacterian camel has two humps. The humps on a camel’s back store fat and flesh that is absorbed as nutrition while food is not available. The camel is known for being able to go without water for several days at a time. The hump in the Arabian camel rises to about twelve inches above the back, and the camel can stand about seven feet tall at the shoulders. The Bacterian camel is about five feet tall to the shoulders and usually has a heavier body. These camels have been around since the ancient times.

Arabian camels are found from Northwest India and the lowland of Afghanistan to the Arabian Peninsula and Somalia to the South and Westward African deserts. There are approximately 25,000 wild camels that still remain since their introduction in 1840 to 1907. Arabian camels survive in the desert due to the structure and qualities. They have the ability to bite off and eat the thorny plants that exist in the desert. The thick callouses on their knees and chest and the thick sole pads allow them to cope with the hot sand. The eyes are covered by really long eyelashes.

The rocky and cooler regions are better for the Bacterian camel, due to its smaller, heavier build. The feet are split and its hair is finer and longer. Central Asia and Mongolia are the central areas of the Bacterian camels, and there are fewer than 1,000 Bacterian camels in the wild. The continuing existence of the Bacterian camel is remarkable since it has to endure such different climate changes, like 140 degrees Fahrenheit, to the Arctic cold in the winter.

The camel’s strength is very remarkable and makes it a very valuable animal. The Bacterian camel can carry as much as 1,000 pounds and travel about 29 miles a day. The Arabian camel can travel as far as 100 miles a day and is usually used as a saddle animal. The camel hide is usually used for leather, and the milk and fat are usually used as food. After their hair is shed, it can be used for paintbrushes, warm clothes, and ropes.